Do you want to work with and lead the energy transition towards a more sustainable society? Congratulations, you've come to the right place! Leadership in the work for sustainable transition requires a broad understanding of the social, technical, economic and environmental challenges and possibilities it entails. This programme is for those engaged in energy and environment questions as well as those that look forward to career possibilities in national and international transition work.

The interdisciplinary character of the programme trains you to understand and integrate knowledge from different disciplines in order to handle the complex topics of energy, energy transition processes and sustainability. Here you will practice critical analysis and evaluation of different approaches from different perspectives where active student participation plays an important role. The programme is taught at Uppsala University's Gotland Campus which offers a well-coordinated education environment and a profile towards sustainability.

Why this programme?

Sustainable energy transition is one of the largest challenges in today's society and requires long term work globally and locally. This process has a great need for individuals with interdisciplinary knowledge who can communicate and work with people across both cultural and disciplinary boundaries.

The Bachelor's Programme in Energy Transition - Sustainability and Leadership is designed to provide you with broad knowledge and understanding of the different challenges and possible solutions for sustainable energy. With an emphasis in the natural, technical and social sciences, you will study technical solutions, environmental impact, political and economic policies and controls. You will also explore the social perspectives of participation and change leadership, both of which are necessary in the work for long term sustainability.

Besides providing theoretical knowledge in the different fields, you will gain practical work in various forms. Training in communication, cooperation, teambuilding and leadership prepare you to work together with different experts and interest groups, such as engineers, planners, economists and environmental scientists. You will gain a solid foundation for a career where you will handle today's and tomorrow's challenges and questions in transition work.

Student profileYou are interested in questions about renewable energy and sustainability and want to take part in the work to achieve a change in society. You are also curious in exploring the topic from different perspectives and think a leadership role seems exciting.

You will study together with students from different countries and with different backgrounds. This diversity promotes the education's interdisciplinary and international character. You will find yourself placed in a relatively small class, which enables the effective use of active teaching methods. As a student you are engaged in the learning process and you are prepared to learn how to communicate, actively listen and work in groups (like for instance role play and project work) as well as to collaborate with different actors in society.

Uppsala University Campus GotlandThe programme is run at Uppsala University Campus Gotland in Visby. Campus Gotland offers a well-coordinated education environment in a unique surrounding with a clear focus on sustainability. The campus provides the opportunity for networking with students in different programmes and local actors (government agencies and businesses) as well as a dialogue with teachers. Wide and comprehensive energy research is being conducted at both Campus Gotland and the Department of Earth Sciences more generally.

In the last decade, with a few exceptions, Uppsala University has been placed among the top 100 best universities in the world by the two largest international ranking lists: ARWU/Shanghai Ranking (2017: ranked 63) and Times Higher Education (THE) (2017: ranked 86).

Degree

The programme leads to a Bachelor of Science with Sustainable Energy Transition as the main field of study.

Programme

During the programme you will study courses from three subjects. Apart from courses in the major subject area of sustainable energy transition there will also be courses given in environmental science and industrial technology, the latter with a focus on leadership. These additional areas can serve as possible minor subjects in your exam.

Year 1The programme begins with courses designed to give you a broad understanding of the field of sustainable energy transition with the focus on energy and energy systems and on the three dimensions of sustainability - social, economic and environmental. Knowledge and skills in project and leadership as well as scientific methods are introduced early so they can be used throughout the programme.

This is followed by courses where we will discuss in more detail environmental and climate change, one of the main driving forces behind the need for an energy transition. In the main subject area of sustainable transition your understanding is improved by studying the conversion and use of energy from a long term energy perspective. This provides a basis to research the technical possibilities.

Year 2During your second year you will further develop your skills in understanding, analysing and managing the interdisciplinary challenges and solutions linked to a sustainable energy transition. One of the courses is focusing on societal change, participation and leadership. Your understanding about the work towards a sustainable society is expanded with courses in the minor area of environmental science which provides perspectives on planning and environmental justice, as well as environmental economics and ecological economics. Businesses' responsibility for sustainable energy development is covered in a course which focuses management systems, life cycle analysis and on other common concepts such as "corporate social responsibility" (CSR) and ethical leadership. An additional course is also given about innovations for a sustainable energy transition, including technological and societal possibilities. The semester concludes by allowing you to use your broadened understanding in a project course about energy systems and leadership. This project course is good training for your (future) roll as a leader.

Year 3During your fifth semester in year three, you can choose between elective courses at Uppsala University or exchange studies at one of our partner universities. There is also a possibility of doing an internship if you, as an active and driven student, decide to arrange an internship at a relevant business or organisation on your own. An advanced scientific methods course and an interdisciplinary project course are given during the programme's final semester. In the latter course project work is conducted in collaboration with students from other programmes as well as representatives from community and business. The goal of this course is to add to your knowledge as well as to evaluate solutions to real energy related challenges as well as preparing you for the 15 credit Bachelor's thesis. Your Bachelor's thesis should contribute to the research and activities within the field of sustainable energy transition.

Courses within the programme

Learning experience

Since the goal of the programme is to prepare you to handle the challenges of working with energy transition, the courses are made up of both theoretical and practical studies. Exercises in both written and oral communication skills, as well as mutual learning in student groups, are also key points of the programme.

The programme is built on two important cornerstones - active student participation and interdisciplinary studies - are intended to give you the skills you will need in your future career:

1. Active student participation in the programme means a series of different teaching methods such as seminars, different forms of student groups and project work, role play, debates and guest lectures. This variation in teaching methods creates an active learning environment where the teacher has a shared responsibility of giving lectures as well as being a supervisor, moderator and mentor while you are trained in engaged participation. Different forms of group work are a central part of the programme where you can improve your ability to communicate, collaborate and lead - all of which are sought after and are highly valued in today's job market.

2. Through interdisciplinary studies a broader understanding and system thinking are cultivated. This means that you practice and use the skills and knowledge provided by the programme by handling complex situations holistically. You will additionally be trained in critical analysis which involves using different perspectives on diverse issues and approaches. Such interdisciplinary competence forms the basis for being able to understand and lead work involving different societal actors, experts and interest groups. This is partially achieved through joint study with students in other programmes as well as through regular meetings and activities together with representatives from industry, research and other groups that participate in working towards an energy transition.

During the fifth semester (year 3) you will take elective courses based on your own interests that increase or expand your understanding of a related topic or topics. You will also have the chance to, on your own, arrange an exchange at a university outside of Sweden or an internship which can give you valuable experience and contacts for your future career.

ExaminationGrading and assessment will be customised to fit the content of each course and its goals. This means that grading methods will span a range of activities that evaluate your knowledge and skills through different oral and written forms, both individually and in groups.

LanguageAll courses in the programme are given in English and you will study together with students from across the world. This interaction will allow you to broaden your intercultural proficiency while training you to work in an international environment and to communicate for a global market.

Career

The programme is recommended to you who want to develop and lead this sustainable energy transition within the broad and fast-growing field of energy transition. Employment opportunities can be found in national or international companies (utility companies, electricity companies, large private businesses which have sustainability incorporated into their core activities, housing companies, transport companies, consultancies) as well as not for profit organisations and governmental authorities on different levels. The energy sector provides you, as a professional, with many opportunities to work in graduate positions such as:

Sustainable energy officer at government agencies

Energy strategist

Renewable energy consultant

Sustainability consultant

Environmental communication officer

Renewable energy or sustainability programme coordinator

Energy advisor

All sectors of society, including both public and private, ranging from the local to the global level, require competence based on holistic understanding. Soft skills, like for instance being able to collaborate within an organisation and society, are also needed to take climate action to the next level and to drive a sustainable transition. Having received an interdisciplinary education you are able to handle these complex questions, and that makes you well suited to take the role of, what we would like to call, a "transition pilot". Your broad knowledge allows you to engage with experts from various fields and be able to communicate and manage people across boundaries, in both culture and background. The fact that the energy sector is highly complex and globally interlinked makes the international character of the programme even more valuable.

Continue your studies at the Master's levelAs a graduate of the programme, you will be able to continue your studies at the Master's level in or outside of Sweden. Here at Uppsala University you can, for example, you could for example study one of the following programmes:

Master's Programme in Entrepreneurship

Master's Programme in Sustainable Destination Development

Master's Programme in Sustainable Development

Master's Programme in Wind Power Project Management

Quotes about the labour market:

A new report from IRENA finds that the renewable energy sector employs 9.8 million people worldwide (International Renewable Energy Agency, 2017): "Renewables are directly supporting broader socio-economic objectives, with employment creation increasingly recognised as a central component of the global energy transition. As the scales continue to tip in favour of renewables, we expect that the number of people working in the renewables sector could reach 24 million by 2030, more than offsetting fossil-fuel job losses and becoming a major economic driver around the world," comments IRENA Director-General Adnan Z. Amin.

University World News (om World Future Energy Summit 2013):"We need broad-based education, but this is actually lagging behind the momentum for renewable energy in society."

All applicants need to verify English language proficiency that corresponds to English studies at upper secondary (high school) level in Sweden ("English 6"). This can be done in a number of ways, including through an internationally recognised test such as TOEFL or IELTS, or through previous upper secondary (high school) or university studies.The minimum test scores are:

IELTS: an overall mark of 6.5 and no section below 5.5

TOEFL: Paper-based: Score of 4.5 (scale 1–6) in written test and a total score of 575. Internet-based: Score of 20 (scale 0–30) in written test and a total score of 90

Students who have completed their upper secondary (high school) studies outside of Sweden are selected based on their upper secondary grades. Students who have completed their upper secondary studies and have taken the Swedish Scholastic Aptitude Test (only available in Swedish) are selected based on their upper secondary grades and their Scholastic Aptitude Test results.

Fees:

If you are not a citizen of a European Union (EU) or European Economic Area (EEA) country, or Switzerland, you are required to pay application and tuition fees. Fees cover application and tuition only and do not cover accommodation, academic literature or the general cost of living. Read more about fees.